Some background: Thaliavan would be from a different village/hill. Thalaivan and Thalaivi have met and by context of this decade looks like they have had Iyarkai Punarchi. They meet every night secretly.

Now he feels that he has to go away to earn money

if he is not married yet , which is usually the case in Kurunchi, he had to earn money to marry Thalaivi (those days in Tamil nadu especially in mountain regions – you had to pay dowry/bride price to women’s family).

if he is married – then the theme becomes Mullai (earning to increase wealth) , which is not really out of place considering poem 264 in this decade is mix of Kurunchi and Marutham.

But Thalaivi feels she can not live without him.

There is an interesting allusion here – Pig taking care of mother less piglet. This could mean

her intent to elope leaving her family. She belives Thalaivan will take care of her like the mother less pigs. (if they are not married)

Seperation (Tiger) would kill the mother (her) and eventually he has to take care of the babies like the pig does.

My preference is option 1 where they are unmarried (also the same in traditional commentaries – though they explicit don’t call out Thalaivai’s intention to elope)